Foot-board and steering apparatus for boats



(No Model.)

M. F. DAVIS. Foot Board and Steering Apparatus for Boats.

No. 231,017. Patented Aug. 10,1880.

WW M? )1 mums. flu PM UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE.

MICHAEL F. DAVIS, (ll PORTLAND, MAINE.

FOOT-BOARD AND STEERING APPARATUS FOR BOATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,017, dated August 10, 1880.

. \ppliration tiled Mai-ch18, use

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MICHAEL F. DAVIS, of the city of Portland, Maine, have invented a new and useful Improvement in l oot-Boards and Steering Apparatus for Row-Boats, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to theaccompanyingdrawings,torming part of the same, in which- Figure l. is a plan or upper face view of an apparatus that embodies my improvement. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, and Fig. 3 is a view looking down into a row-boat to which my improved apparatus is applied.

My invention relates to a foot-board and a steering apparatus connected therewith for row-boats, that is adapted to be operated by the foot of the oarsman.

A is the foot-board, which is adapted in form to the sole of the footot' the oarsman. Itmay be made of wood. to a baseboard, B, so that it mayswing freely on its pivot. The portion 1) against which the toes are to rest is turned upward at an angle of about forty-five degrees.

0 is a heel-piece, which is made of a metal frame securely fixed to the foot-board A and covered with leather, and is so constructed as to embrace and confine the heel of the user. 11 d are broad straps or pieces secured to the board A, so that they may be laced on the foot just over the bend of the toes, leaving the instep free, so as not to impede circulation.

G is a toe-piece, made of a metal frame covered with leather, preferably stayed bya wire running around its edge. It is hinged to ears 0 by means of arms 0, that extend one on each side from its rear end, the ears being secured to the board near its forward end.

D is a rod, hinged at its upper end to the front end of the toe-piece, and at its lower end to a spring-catch, E, that is secured to the foot-board A. F is an upwardly-projecting curved rib secured to the base-board B, and provided with a series of notches, with which the catch E engages. The tiller-ropes f f are secured to the foot-board A near its forward end, one on each side.

G is a curved groove in the face of the baseboard B. A curved plate, G, caps this groove, leaving a narrow curved slot, into which pro jects from the foot-board an arm, g, that is bent so as to look under the plate G. This it is pivoted at the heel a (No model.)

prevents the raising of the footboard off the base-board, while it permits a free lateral movement on the pivot at the heel. 'lhis lootboard is designed to beplaced in a rowboutin position toenablethe oarsman to convenientlyinserthis foot within the heel-piece and straps. One for each foot may be provided. A tiller rope or wire may run from the rudder along each side of the boat to the foot-board through suitable pulleys or eyes.

In operating the apparatus above described the user raises with his toe or toes the toepiece 0, which lifts the spring-catch out of the notch in the rib F, and then swings the footboard on its pivot to the right or left, as he may desire, thereby steering his boat by merely swinging his foot on his heel.

The foot-board serves the purpose of a convenient and comfortable foot-rest for the oarsman, while at the same time it is made to perform the otiice of a steering apparatus. It is peculiar in construction in having the forward end, upon which the toes rest, turned up at an angle of about forty-five degrees, and, while the heel is confined in a suitable heel-piece, lacing-straps inclose the foot just at the bend of the foot, between the toes and instep, leaving the instep free and unconfined.

The foot-board can be adapted to the size of any foot by merely moving the heel-piece up or down, which is easily done by changing the location of the screws holding the heel-piece to the bottom of the foot-board. Itis evident that instead of screws slides and clamps may be used, if desired. The turned up part b will insure such position for the foot as will enable the oarslnan to avail himself of nearly the full power of the foot.

In use it is designed to place in each shell or boat two of the foot-boards above described for each oarsman, but the steering gear or apparatus is attached to but one, and to either foot desired. When once the footboard is adjusted to the oarsm air's foot, by fixing the position of the heel-piece and adjusting the lacing over the bend of the foot it is permanently arranged for use, and will need no further manipulator.

In case of an oversct of the boat or any aecident the oarsmans foot can be quickly and safely disengaged by merely raising the heel.

A foot-board constructed as above described will obviate tho use of shoes or slippers for tho oarsman, since tho stoolting foot, or (won the baro t'oot, will very (:oinlbrtably fit into the foot-board. By thus enabling the oarsnian to dispense with the weight of tho shoes at very important advantage is st-nurolh especially when it is oonsidorod that tho least dorrraso of weight is of importance.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and dosiro to secure by Lotturs Patent, is

1. A combined toot-board and steering apparatus l'or row-boats, consisting" of tho piv oted i'ootboard A, providod with tho swino'i n54 toopiooo U, oonneotod to tho spring-match 1G, and a suitable stop with which said catch ongages, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a row-boat of a f00t1'estcomposodoi" tho timt-board A, having the point I) turnod up at an angle with tho body of the board of about t'ort v-iivo degroos,

and provided with the hool-pioco U and straps or piocos r] d, arranged to law ovor the foot just across tho bond of the foot, botwoon tho instep and the tons, saibstantiall l as described.

It. The ttflli'llllllllIlOll of a pivotod loot-board provided with looking moohanisnl, substantially as sot forth, with the steering" apparatus of a row-boat, substantially as and for the purposes dosoribod.

ll. [in combination with tho fool boartl ot' a row-boat having its forward ond nurvod and provided with straps or pit-oust] i1, thoadjustablo hnotpiooo U, consisting, of a frame suit ably covered, substantially as and l'orthopnn poses doscribod.

l\l it' l l A1511 1". DAVlS.

\Vitnossos:

ll. Dawn, (2. \Y. BALLOON. 

